They're sending us on another mission already? Jasper thought grumpily. Vacations weren't really a thing in this world, but, by Jove, he needed one. If a fellow couldn't take a few days off after slaying a demigod, stopping a civil war, or escaping a portal to a genuine cursed city, when could he? Maybe I should start the world's first travel bureau-

"Yas̆peh? Pay attention."

His red skin hid the blush spreading across his cheeks as the Moon-kissed commander snapped his fingers irritably and waited for him to refocus before continuing.

"As you know, with the situation here stabilized, we'll be resuming our march to rendezvous with the army Lord Eligon is gathering at Dūr-Tsadê. From there, we'll march to the coast, cutting off the narrow land route the stoneflesh have carved between Tanattilū and Sicya. Meanwhile," Ardûl drew Jasper's attention to a map spread across the table, and sketched an arc around the capital's harbor. "The elves of Yammaqom and the sailors of Iyām have already blockaded the port and successfully fended off an attempted rescue mission from the stoneflesh."

"But those are not the only forces marching on the capital." Ardûl pointed to the frozen steppes far to the north of Yammaqom. "The elves of Onkodos Laos and Nāl-Ḫalab are still en route; with the fleets of Yammaqom already gone, they've been forced to take an inland route, but will likely reach the capital before our forces. Lord Eligon wishes to send you to meet them."

"You've got to be kidding me," Jasper blurted out. "Why us? Surely there's someone better equipped-"

"He doesn't want you to be a diplomat - perish the thought," the Moon-kissed shuddered in faux horror, though his eyes twinkled with amusement. "Lord Eligon has already dispatched a properly trained ambassador to greet the elven armies; he simply wants you to join their delegation."

"Okay," Jasper replied hesitantly; he was relieved to not be responsible for maintaining diplomatic relationships between the Empire and its most important allies, but still didn't see why they were needed. "But, still, why us? Is he just trying to get rid of us?"

"You have more experience with elves than most in the Emperor's court," Ardûl explained. "Since the Zalancthian invasion and the loss of our southern harbors, the elves have rarely ventured further south than the provinces of Celestia and Iyām. Outside of the northern nobles, there are few in the Empire who have treated with the elves recently, and, for obvious reasons, Lord Eligon does not trust them."

"But you, to outward appearances, have forged bonds with several elves. You spent time with the enclave at Gis̆-Izum, working missions for Lady Aphora, and, even though you have since parted ways, her daughter is still in your party. Then's your friend here," he nodded at Ihra, "an elf in everything but birth; I have no doubt her situation will arouse much curiosity from her northern kin. Between that and the Emperor's well-known desire to curry favor with the Djinn, no one will question your inclusion in the diplomatic party."

Able to read between the lines, Jasper leaned forward curiously. "So I take it that's just the excuse the Emperor's using to send us there. What does he actually want from us?"

"Well caught, Yas̆peh," Ardûl nodded approvingly. "Despite the agreement reached between the leaders of the Empire and the elven realms, many among the rank-and-file are unhappy with the outcome. Though the terms would seem to favor House Nūrilī, many deem the conditions of House Gonya's eventual concession of the throne too open-ended, and believe that the Emperor has no intention of actually stepping down."

Jasper could understand their concerns. Sure, right now, the Empire was in a weakened position, but if Eligon could use the northern troops to reclaim the capital and the southern provinces, he would simultaneously grow his own power base while bleeding the armies of House Nūrilī loyalists.

It was honestly hard to believe that anyone would willingly - peacefully - surrender the throne, and even if the Emperor did genuinely intend to follow through, there was no guarantee that his successors would honor the agreement if he should fall before the war's end. "So I'm guessing he's concerned about sabotage. Does he think the elven army will turn against him?"

"I don't think the discontent is wide enough for treachery on such a wide scale," Ardûl disagreed, "but the attack on Lady Naklāti was not the first time supporters of House Nūrilī have struck. Until now, their efforts have remained small-scale - supplies have been sabotaged, messages delayed or intercepted, orders purposely misinterpreted - but Eligon fears that the attempted kidnapping of his consort marks an escalation in their activities. Needless to say, his ambassador will be an attractive target for anyone wishing to sabotage relations between them."

"So why not just send them with an army?"

"It would be an insult to send his ambassador at the head of an army," the Moon-kissed shook his head, "and the Empire cannot afford to give unnecessary offense. That's where you come in. Your group is small, has theoretical connections with the elves, and, most importantly, you punch far above your weight. Even the weakest of your group," his eyes subtly flitted to Ihra, "is a skilled warrior with unusual skills. Keep the ambassador safe until the armies meet up - that's all you need to do."

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"That's all, huh?" Jasper half-chuckled, half-sighed. "Somehow, I have a feeling that's easier said than done."

"It won't be easy," the commander admitted, "but if it's any consolation, this mission should prove to your benefit as well," he added, turning to face Ihra. "As it happens, the elven armies will be camping only a few hours' ride from the lands of House Paradīl."

"How did you know about that?" Ihra gasped, tossing an angry look at Jasper, who quickly shook his head.

"I didn't tell him about it," he protested, knowing full well that Ihra had very mixed feelings about the quest Ayāllu had given her.

"The Emperor's truthseekers see more than you realize," Ardûl butted in. "Do or don't do it; your orders from Lord Eligon involve the ambassador only, but if I may offer advice," he continued serenely, without waiting for Ihra's response, "the gods do not require your aid to wreak their vengeance. Do not let pity for the damned stay your hand."

"Is there nothing private?" Ihra fumed as they stepped out of the tent. "What else do they know about us?"

"Honestly, they didn't seem to know that much," Jasper pointed out. "I could tell some of the spells I used took Naklāti by surprise. I think she thought we were a lot weaker than we are."

"Then how do they know about my quest?" she countered.

"Maybe their spell lets them see our status - or at least part of our status," he amended as he thought over his interactions with the Emperor's consort. "You know, I think the spells she reacted to were all ones I earned from Kas̆ael's class, not my main one. In any case, I don't think there's any reason to assume they can read our memories."

"I hope not," she grumbled. "I was already having a hard time deciding whether I'd do the quest, without having the kruvas̆-cursed emperor know about it!"

Jasper chuckled. "Cursing the emperor in his own camp - is this your way of telling me your House Nūrilī loyalist?"

"Maybe," she replied flippantly, sticking her tongue out at him as her irritation faded away. "At least our new mission doesn't seem too bad."

"I don't know," Jasper sighed, as they trudged down the flooded row of tents, back to their own hovels. "You didn't get to fight the mages that kidnapped Naklāti, but they were tough as hell, and, from the sounds of things, this ambassador isn't going to be much help."

After revealing his knowledge of Ihra's quest, Ardûl had laid out the details of their mission from Eligon. The ambassador was the daughter of an important southern lord, the only heir of one of the few houses of the currently occupied province of Tiyām-Hareī that had survived extinction. By all accounts, while she'd been extremely well-trained in matters of the court and diplomacy, due to her father's fear of losing her, she'd been kept far from the battlefield. The commander hadn't been given full details on her strength or class, but rumor had it that her level was barely into the thirties.

"Maybe we can give her combat training?" Ihra offered.

"Unless we can power-level her, I doubt it will help. She's probably received better training than we have," he pointed out, "but there's only so much that training can do in the face of the pure brute strength that levels give you."

She conceded his point with a grimace, changing the subject as her mind returned to Ayāllu's quest. "Do you think I should do it?"

"Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll all be evil. You won't have to feel bad killing them if they're baby-eating cultists," he joked, but his flippant response didn't seem to buoy her spirits.

"And if they aren't?"

"I don't know." Jasper ran his fingers through his hair, shaking out the wet, tangled locks that the damnable weather inflicted on him. "I think I'd have a hard time punishing people for something their ancestors did. I mean it was definitely messed up - their ancestors slaughtered a bunch of innocent people and sacked a temple just to enrich themselves - but they didn't do it."

"I know, but...they're still profiting from the riches, though," she countered half-heartedly.

"They are, and, I suppose, if they know the truth of what happened and haven't tried to make amends, you could make the argument they aren't exactly innocent. But..." Jasper scratched his head with a grimace. "I just don't buy that the sins of the father are passed down to the son. But I'm not the one who has to make the decision and, unlike you, I don't have any skin in the game."

He frowned as he flexed his fingers, feeling no pain as a ripple of flame consumed his hand. "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose my magic at this point, and if Lord Ayāllu can give that to you - if the Stag Lord is going to punish these nobles anyway, regardless of whether or not you decide to spare them - well…the decision's up to you, Ihra; I'll support you either way."

"Thanks," she replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes, and with forced cheeriness, Jasper thumped her on the back.

"But hey, that's a problem for another day. Today, we just have to worry about breaking the joyous news to the others that we're back on the road."

"I'm sure the scout will be thrilled," she smirked, distracted by the change of topic. "S̆ams̆ādur said he almost cried when they had to leave the inn at Abāya."

"Yeah, I think Erin is more suited for the city life, but I'm confident he'll be happy this time."

"How?" she demanded skeptically. "We didn't even get one day of rest before being sent halfway across the Empire on yet another mission. Kruvas̆, we didn't even get a reward for the last one!"

"True," Jasper agreed hurriedly, before she remembered that he actually had received a reward; for as much as Ihra said she wasn't interested in him in that way, he'd seen a spark of something - jealousy, possessiveness, he wasn't quite sure - in her eyes when Ardûl had advised him to accept the marriage. "But on the plus side," he continued, "we get to leave this hell-hole of a province. Say goodbye to freezing rain, and say hello to sunny skies! It's like those army ads I always used to see: 'Travel the world! Experience new cultures! Expand your education! and just forget the possibility of death, dismemberment, or lifelong trauma," he lowered his voice dramatically. "It's all in how you spin it, Ihra. Don't worry - by the time I'm done breaking the news to the others, there will be tears of joy in Erin's eyes."

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